According to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been terminally ill for an extended period of time and may be close to death.
Budanov claims that sources close to the president have indicated that Putin is suffering from cancer. In an interview with ABC News, Budanov stated, "He has been sick for a long time; I am sure he has cancer. I think he will die very quickly. I hope very soon."
Various analysts, including U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, have suggested that Putin's death could bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, Budanov has argued that the conflict "should be ended" before Putin's death, regardless of any potential transfer of power.
When asked how Ukraine claims to have knowledge of Putin's condition, Budanov responded: "We think it’s cancer. We know it, we just know it, from human sources."
There have been numerous reports and rumors circulating about Putin's health since the onset of the Russian invasion in February. These rumors may have stemmed from leaked audio obtained by New Lines magazine, in which a Kremlin-linked oligarch seemed to imply that Putin had blood cancer and was "very ill."
There are also several physical indications Putin may be suffering from a terminal illness. Throughout 2022, photos emerged that seemed to show track marks on his hands, leading some, including a former British Army chief, to speculate that he was receiving intravenous drips.
Meanwhile, video footage of Putin gripping a desk in an attempt to stop his hands from shaking also fueled rumors, as did photos of his face appearing "puffy," which some have suggested could be a result of steroid use as part of cancer treatment.
Despite these claims, the CIA has previously warned that Moscow has a history of spreading disinformation and that it could be intentionally encouraging such theories. As a result, U.S. intelligence remains divided on the veracity of the speculation.
The Kremlin has denied reports that Putin is in poor health. In an interview with French TV channel TF1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, "I don’t think that sane people can see in this person signs of some kind of illness or ailment."
However, the cancellation of Putin's annual end-of-year press conference for the first time in a decade has only added to the speculation. Some suggested that this was another indication of Putin's declining health, while the UK Ministry of Defence suggested on Twitter that the cancellation was more likely due to increasing concerns about anti-war sentiment in Russia.
